Our popular bike show, hosted at the Wakefield Gala at Clarence Park Arena, on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, is rapidly approaching. Fettle up your pride and joy and enter it into the show .... for FREE. All types of Bike, Scooter, Moped, Combination and Trike are welcomed and there are six winning categories plus an overall Best in Show up for grabs. We will also be hosting the Yorkshire MAG stand and running a tombola (with some great prizes to win). Lots of other attractions at the show to entertain you whilst you wait to see if your bike has won, and it's a great family day out.

Location: Clarence Park, Wakefield. Show to be judged at 14:30, Entry into show from 09:30 onwards (Gala officially opens at 10:00).

Our Rideout for the month of May will be held on Sunday 13th May. The destination is 'On Your Marques' model car museum, on the East Coast of Lincolnshire (Mumby, Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9TL) www.on-your-marques.com. Entrance Cost: Adults: £4.00. Concessions: £3.50. As well as some 4,500 models on display, the museum also hosts a cafe and a 45 metre long Scalextric track on the glorious East Coast. But of course, our rideouts are not about the destination, but all about the journey and your genial rideout leader, Martin Burgess, has planned a cracking learner friendly scenic route, with a guaranteed 50,000 acres of clear blue sky (Honest !!!!).

Did you know that MAG has it's own YouTube Channel that you can subscribe to, and hosts a number of MAG produced videos ? No, well check out the link here, sit back and enjoy the viewing .... you may even see some familiar faces :-)

Bike boxes, or as they're officially known, Advanced Stop Lines (ASLs) are one of many causes for confusion among riders, drivers and cyclists sharing the road. Exacerbated by grey areas in the law, differences of opinion and seemingly steep fines, just what are the rules and regulations surrounding their use, and what happens if I inadvertently end up in one:

What are Advanced Stop Lines ? ASLs are common at UK traffic lights and are put into place to give cyclists a safe place to stop at busy crossings and allow them to be positioned ahead of other traffic so they have more time to pull off as the lights change.

Is it illegal to enter an ASL? Motorists could receive three penalty points and a £100 fine for stopping inside the Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) when pulling up to a red light. Rule 178 of the Highway Code states: Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g. if the junction ahead is blocked.

What if your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red ? You MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal shows. Although the Highway Code states you must stop at the first white line, it offers an exception to the rule, saying that if the lights change and the driver is forced to brake quickly, then it's safer for motorists to stop in the box, rather than risk braking too suddenly and causing an accident. Also, if a vehicle enters the box while the lights are on green but is unable to clear the area before they turn to red, no offence has been committed.

Furthermore, these 'exceptions' makes prosecuting offenders difficult. PC James Aveling, a city bike patrol officer for more than 15 years, said in a Guardian article on the same subject: "Booking cars which enter the zone is tricky as it's not illegal if they stop in one if a light turns red and they're part way in. Officers thus have to watch a driver creep in on an already red light. There are occasions when motorists flout the rules and drive straight up to the second solid white line at traffic lights, but there are also occasions where cyclists enter the zones illegally in the first place. It is only legal for a cyclist to enter an ASL from the break in the solid white line, usually found as a small gap on the kerb side edge. So if a cyclist enters from the centre or right, they are committing an offence and potentially putting themselves in danger by weaving in and out of traffic to get there."

The Cycling Embassy also acknowledges the negatives of ASLs, stating there are many disadvantages including the fact that they may encourage people to filter past traffic when it may not be always safe, and to position themselves in dangerous positions in front of HGVs and other vehicles with poor visibility.

Whether the UK is in or out of the EU, European legislation and developments will continue to affect us all through European specifications for imported machines, accessories, spares or clothing. Even if all you do is venture to the continent on holiday on your bike, you will still need to be aware of different rules and regulations in order to avoid infringements of the law in whatever country you may decide to visit. Hence, it's sensible to keep up to date with all the latest developments and trends.

Wakefield MAG now have our branch allocation of 'Sale or Return' Yorkshire MAG Rally Tickets, which are on sale NOW at the Wednesday meetings. Remember, if you buy them direct from us, you will save on the booking / postage fee !!! Let me know if you want some reserving. A reminder of the dates for these cracking rallies:

Ian Mutch calls on Mayor Khan and Government to come to their senses about motorcycle-enabled crime and unfair pollution taxes.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) held their biggest demonstration in years on Saturday 21st April to highlight the unfairness of a new pollution tax that London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is threatening to introduce and which will hit some of the poorest workers in the capital. The demonstration, organised by MAG's London Regional Representative, Tim Fawthrop, drew support from all elements of the riding community including dispatch riders, delivery riders, commuters and leisure bikers.

Selina Lavender, MAG's Chair, said "A big thank you to the MAG members who put in the hours to bring the demo together. It was great to see riders turn out in support of the event and I really enjoyed riding with you all. Hopefully Mr Khan will get the message!"

Keith Prince, Chair of the Greater London Authority Transport Committee and a motorcyclist himself, added his voice to the call for common sense: "I am disappointed that the Mayor of London has chosen to punish the most vulnerable with his ULEZ tax by again not keeping his promise to work with the motorcycling community. Ironically as a socialist, he is taxing the least well off; the low-paid essential workers and night workers who need their small-capacity bikes to get to work and cannot afford to replace them. Transport for London's 'Easy Rider' report of 2015 states 'powered two wheelers are part of the solution.' Why, two years later, are we now part of the problem?"

Other speakers included Peter Ramsbottom, London Deputy Regional Representative, who is equally disappointed by the actions of the Mayor: "We need to view motorcycles as a solution to the problem, and that's what MAG has been campaigning for since these recent threats emerged."

MAG's President, Ian Mutch, summed up the campaigning commitment of MAG: "The Mayor really does need to think about motorcycling because he made many promises to us before being elected. Now we invite him to talk directly with MAG. Currently, his policies on motorcycling are counterproductive: they ignore the benefits that motorcycles of all kinds bring to the commuting mix."

Colin Brown, MAG's recently appointed Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, said of the event "this was a peaceful, good natured demonstration but there is real anger amongst bikers who don't understand how the Mayor can think it's fair to charge riders of old mopeds £12.50 a day to enter the city, while someone with a six-litre sports car gets in for free, as far as the pollution tax is concerned, if it's a new vehicle. We believe we have a strong legal case based on discrimination. We hope it doesn't come to that but if the Mayor is willing to damage his own reputation to defend a tax on the poor, then MAG will take him on, all the way to court if necessary."

Highways England continues to be a role model for action following its Motorcycle Infrastructure Sub-Working Group meeting on 17th April 2018.
Lembit Öpik, MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, regards this as "amongst the most productive project groups in our Political Unit's calendar. Rarely have I seen a team which delivers so much and so well - in this case with a task list 28 pages long." These include:

Recommending a review of roadside advertising, which can easily draw the attention of drivers - after all, that's the purpose of advertising. Highways England already refuses advertising within their highway boundary.

Assessing the danger of signposts and trees present near the roadside - with a request for inclusion of clear standards in safety planning. Data shows 91% of impacts with trees by motorcyclists led to death or serious injury.

Highways England is assessing the extent to which 'armadillos' and 'orcas,' present a danger. They've been raised with the Safer Roads Team Specialist.

'Turbo roundabouts,' which introduce raised separation of lanes, will not be included in the plans of Highways England.

On potholes and manhole covers the committee recommends clear standards of repair and a review of the frictional qualities of manhole covers. Law already exists but possibly isn't being enforced (Street Works Act, Section 81). Other legislation says 'Ironwork must (have) similar friction qualities to that of the road surface (TD 54/07 Paragraph 4.9).' Safety inspection protocols were also covered.

They're issuing advice on differential heights on road surfaces where rutting and raised edges present a danger to riders. Slippery joints between road sections - known as 'overbanding' - were also discussed.

48% of rider accidents at roundabouts and 47% of rider accidents at T or staggered junctions result in death or serious injury. The group recommends guidance in the 'Guide to Road Safety Route Treatments.'

A notable statistic is that, on the Strategic Road Network, 14% of rider accidents are caused by vehicles pulling out on bikers.

"We got through a lot," adds Jimmy Torrance, Manchester MAG Representative and fellow member of this sub-group. "You know, they actually listen to riders. Road surface issues are a direct test - if Highways England does repair more dangerous potholes and resurfaces slippery manhole covers,that would prove the group's usefulness."

If you have specific concerns about major roads, please let Lembit or Jimmy know, and they can raise these issues at the sub-working group.

Free Bike Show entry (but a donation to MAG would be appreciated). Multiple Show Categories / Awards, catering for all types of Bike, Scooter, Moped, Combination & Trike. Yorkshire MAG Stand and Tombola. Multiple attractions at the Gala. All Welcome to come along and show off your Pride & Joy. Location: Clarence Park, Wakefield. Show to be judged at 14:30, Entry into show from 09:30 onwards (Gala officially opens at 10:00)